Have there been any changes in the appearance of the individual’s skin? Do they feel like they “might” have something? Typically, when there is a feeling that something is wrong, there may be something wrong and it is always better to be safe than sorry. If there are suspicions that an individual may have skin cancer, it is wise to seek immediate medical advice and aid. Cancer is a condition that affects the human body in various parts and is a condition that is known to kill thousands each year. In other words, cancer is a ticking bomb that can explode at any moment. Sometimes, a person might not even know they have cancer because they never felt any changes in their body, but when a medical professional notices signs, they must do everything necessary to uncover whether the individual has cancer or not.
Misdiagnosing any form of cancer is an immense medical negligence by the health care professional. A patient might be seeking help because they have a feeling that something might be wrong but the medical professional completely disregards their requests and signs. Sometimes, overconfidence in their abilities as a doctor can get to their head and they just “assume” what the patient has. That is very reckless of the health care provider to do. By not performing their jobs according to the duty of care that they must provide, a patient that has skin cancer has their chances of survival completely shattered. A grave form of skin cancer that is deadly is known as melanoma, although rare. If a medical provider misdiagnosed a patient’s skin cancer, misdiagnosed skin cancer malpractice attorneys in Orlando know exactly what steps to take next. They will know what to do to maximize the chances of the victim winning at their litigation.
How Common Is Skin Cancer?
There are various forms of skin cancer. Some are less of a threat than others, but each form requires that the medical professional carefully, effectively, and timely treat it. The American Academy of Dermatology provides the following statistics about skin cancer:
- Basal cell and squamous cell cancer affected 5.4 million Americans in the year 2015
- Melanoma was diagnosed in 9,940 people in the year 2015
- Some type of skin cancer is diagnosed every day in about 9,500 people
- Skin cancer will affect 1 in 5 individuals throughout their lifetime
- Melanoma cancer is predicted to affect 161,790 in the year 2017
- Men over the age of 50 who are Caucasian are more susceptible to skin cancer than other races
The odds of one in five people contracting some form of skin cancer is quite high. Because skin cancer frequently affects people, professionals in the medical field should already have a preconception that anyone can acquire it. They need to prescreen their patients regardless of them having risk factors or not. Speaking with skilled attorneys in Orlando for misdiagnosed skin cancer malpractice in Percy Martinez Law Firm is the first step in holding the neglectful medical professionals liable for their malpractice.